Confused

[Miss Grinch]

There is this guy at work I was wondering if he likes me or not. He seemed to give off all the signs that he did and does but then acts weird. Lately as about a month ago we kind of got closer than what we were. Meaning like we used to always casually talk to each other. When I worked back in that department when he would be leaving out of the door to go to the lot he would always stop, wait for me to look at him, and then he'd wave at me. Then when I got moved to another department and had my own desk for the time being he would walk past my desk and occasionally throw key rings at me and wait to see if I see it was him and he'd be laughing or smiling. Well one day out of the blue he starts giving me the silent treatment. It lasted for a week or two. Then like nothing out of the blue he'll throw a key ring at me to break the ice. So then things will go back to normal. Well lately we've been playing a lot around the office. Playing like I'll snatch his hat or sunglasses and he'll chase me around and we'll be laughing. I'll take his things and hide them. Then I started tickling him and he would just laugh and twitch. One week a couple of weeks ago was when I realized I was falling for him. I had had so much fun with him at work that week and that Friday it crossed my mind if he liked me. So I asked my roommate if he thought the guy liked me and he said well yeah it's obvious. He said y'all talk and play. So then I started thinking back on encounters between us over the last months and then I then it hit me. I was falling for him. One day that next week we had been playing around that day and then he went to his truck and I went back to my desk. I was sitting there and after a while I thought I miss such and such and then a few minutes later I received a notification from him on Facebook. He uploaded a pic on a thread we were talking on and in the pic was his gun, water flask, hat, and the piggy I bought him. So I replied and said awww you keep the piggy I bought you in your truck. He also kept my book marker I bought him in his cup holder but now uses it for the book he's currently reading. That Friday he uploaded a pic of me that he edited and said I had some down time at work. Well that next day I went too far with a prank I played on him by taking his kindle, water, and sunglasses home with me. The next day he was mad at me and gave me the silent treatment for a week I think. After that things went back to normal. The thing is he occasionally does this silent treatment on me. We'll go from talking a lot and playing around to him giving me the silent treatment for a week. Then out of the blue he's back throwing things at me. Today at work he walked real fast by my desk and threw a key ring at me and I chased him out of the office. He had been giving me the silent treatment for a few days. I don't get this whole silent treatment mess. Then yesterday when I was in the parking lot walking to the door I saw him in the distance walking from center field and then he stopped near this car and was just standing there looking at me. At least it looked like he was looking at me because he was facing me. I just don't understand it and wonder if any of you guys might know what's going on. Does he like me doesn't he? Why the occasional silent treatment? Oh and things actually started changing between us when a mutual co-worker/friend of ours left the job. That's when he started playing pranks on me and we started talking more. This all started back in early or mid Feb I think.

[basilandthyme]

I guess he likes you in some way. I mean, the behaviour that the two of you are doing is the equivalent of pulling pigtails in the playground and kids do that when one child likes another but doesn't yet have the social skills to actually do anything productive about it.

Speaking of poor social skills, people who do silent treatment do so when they lack the social skills to communicate that they are upset. Though I'm surprised that you couldn't figure out why you got the silent treatment after taking home his kindle etc.

Anyway, I did use the children and playground analogy deliberately. The rest of the office is probably wishing the two of you would grow up. If you're interested in him and you are ready to stop behaving like a 7yo, ask him out.

[Miss Grinch]

Wow what a way to be a jerk in your reply. So two people just having fun around a boring dreary office is the equivalent of being childish and acting like a 7 year old? I don't get people like you. If you have nothing productive to offer in a reply or can't even say it in a decent way then why even bother replying.

[basilandthyme]

Yes you're right. It was a jerky reply. I apologise sincerely.

Yes, he probably likes you in some form - which is why he's playing games with you. Though I stand by my assertion that the silent talk is because his communication skills are poor.

The only way to find out how he feels is to either discuss it with him or ask him out.

[Miss Grinch]

Apology accepted. The thing is he is confusing. He doesn't allow anyone to get to know him. I tried twice asking him to take me to Corpus or shooting guns and both times he said no. This was long before I wrote this thread or even thought about asking for advice. This was like a month ago. That last time I asked him I finally said you just don't want to hang out with me and he said pretty much but he was smiling when he said it and seemed like he was being a smart ass. He's just complicated and not in a good way. To me he seems depressed. I mean he did tell me once that he wanted to kill himself when he turns 40. I dind't judge him or hold it against him. As for me asking him if he likes me well that's not going to happen. his actions say otherwise and the signals are just moxed. Like I said he'll go through these periods where he just gives me silent treatment and then out of the blue he stops that. A week ago I posted this pic of me on Facebook and the next day he passed by my desk and threw a key ring at me. This was during one of his silent treatments. I'm still getting the silent treatment. We haven't talked on Facebook and not at work. I don't know maybe I read the signals wrong and he didn't like me. Lately it sure doesn't seem like it.